The Matcha Yaad

Spreading calm energy from Jamaica to Japan.
Services
Brand experience
Client
The Matcha Yaad
Year
2024
Challenge

The energy drink market is dominated by "high-octane," aggressive brands like Monster and Red Bull.

The Matcha Yaad needed to carve out a distinct space that felt energetic yet calm, and vibrant yet mindful. The challenge was to create a visual and verbal identity that honoured its diverse cultural roots (Jamaica and Japan) while appealing to a new generation of conscious consumers looking for functional, flavourful alternatives.

Goal

The objective was to develop a creative direction and launch campaign that would: Differentiate the brand from traditional, "jittery" energy drinks. Celebrate the cultural duality of the product in an authentic way. Establish a recognisable visual language that balances functionality with fun.

The impact

The campaign successfully positioned The Matcha Yaad as a refreshing and meaningful alternative in a crowded sector:

Differentiated Positioning: The brand moved away from the “energy drink” stereotype to own the “calm energy” space.

Memorable Visual Identity: Created a culturally rich visual language that built immediate recognition and resonance.

Strong Brand Affinity: Fostered a deep emotional connection with an audience seeking mindful, culturally authentic wellness products.

The approach

Against Ordinary led a Brand Audit, Design, and Launch Campaign strategy focused on mindful vitality:

Crafted a Core Campaign Message: We distilled the brand’s essence into the simple, powerful line: “It Calm Energy.”

Designed for Diversity: We developed visuals featuring a multicultural cast to represent the fusion of influences and the universal appeal of mindfulness.

Animated Unity: We created subtle can animations that mimicked the rhythm of calm breathing, symbolising the mindful experience of the product.

Culturally Resonant Visuals: We built an identity that was both recognisable and celebratory, capturing attention across all digital and physical channels.

Up next...

Unifying a brand group for future growth.